Federal grants make up a significant portion of state budgets, providing funding for programs in health care, education, infrastructure, and public assistance.[1][2] These funds are typically accompanied by policy conditions or reporting requirements that shape how states implement federally funded programs. In response, states have developed varying oversight systems to review, approve, and monitor federal funding.
This page summarizes federal grant funding and oversight in Georgia. It includes data on how federal dollars contribute to the state budget, highlights Georgia’s position relative to other states, and analyzes key laws related to grant coordination, transparency, and accountability. This research was last updated in September 2025.
HIGHLIGHTS
In fiscal year 2023, 40.4% of Georgia’s total state revenue came from intergovernmental sources—primarily federal grants—the 15th-highest share nationwide. The state received approximately $28.3 billion in federal funds, the 12th-highest total.[1]
Georgia law authorized the Governor of Georgia to enter agreements and take necessary actions to secure and administer federal grants, required agencies to notify state budget offices and the Georgia State Legislature before applying for new federal assistance, directed the legislative budget analyst to review the fiscal impact of such applications, and required the Department of Audits and Accounts to maintain a public website detailing federal grant expenditures and audits.
This article includes information about the following topics:
Background
Federal grants are a major source of funding for state governments, supporting programs in areas such as health care, education, transportation, and public assistance.[2] These funds are distributed through a variety of mechanisms—including block grants, categorical grants, and formula-based programs—and are typically accompanied by policy conditions, reporting requirements, or other administrative mandates.
Federal grants are reported as part of a state’s intergovernmental revenue, a category tracked annually by the United States Census Bureau. Intergovernmental revenue includes funds transferred from both federal and local governments, but federal sources account for the vast majority. In 2022, approximately 98% of intergovernmental revenue received by states came from the federal government.[3] In 2023—the most recent year for which data is available—states collectively received about $1.12 trillion in intergovernmental revenue, representing 36.7% of all general revenue.[1]
Because of the scale and conditional nature of federal funding, many states have adopted statutory and administrative frameworks to oversee how agencies apply for, accept, and manage federal grants. These frameworks reflect broader federalism concerns—such as how states balance fiscal dependence with administrative autonomy, and how they respond to federal mandates that may influence state policy priorities.
This research was last updated in July 2025.
Top federal funding programs to states
In fiscal year 2023, the federal government distributed over $1 trillion in grants to states. The largest programs included Medicaid, highway funding, rental assistance, and child nutrition. Medicaid alone accounted for 56.8% of federal grants to states, and the top 20 programs combined made up approximately 87.8% of total federal grant outlays to states.[4]
Federal funding to Georgia
Amount of federal grants to Georgia
In 2023, Georgia received approximately $28.3 billion in intergovernmental revenue out of a total $70.0 billion in state revenue, the 12th-highest nationwide.[1] The national average was approximately $22.3 billion per state. Across all states, intergovernmental revenue totaled about $1.12 trillion out of $3.04 trillion in general revenue.[1] In 2022, approximately 98% of intergovernmental revenue states received came from the federal government.[3]
Percentage of Georgia budget funded by the federal government
In fiscal year 2023, 40.4% of Georgia’s total state revenue came from intergovernmental sources—primarily federal grants—compared to 36.7% for state governments nationwide.[1] Georgia had the 15th-highest percentage of state revenue funded by the federal government.
Intergovernmental revenue by state
This table shows the percentage and amount of each state's total revenue that came from intergovernmental sources—primarily federal grants—in fiscal year 2023. It lists states in descending order by the share of revenue from these sources and includes total state revenue, intergovernmental revenue, and the percentage for each state. The data highlights how dependent each state is on federal funding as a portion of its overall budget.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State Government Finances
Georgia statutes on federal grant oversight
Many states have statutory provisions that govern the oversight, approval, transparency, and auditing of federal grants received within the state. These laws typically assign responsibilities to executive agencies, the governor’s office, and the legislature to ensure proper management and accountability of federal funds. This research was last updated in September 2025.
Executive oversight of federal grants
Executive oversight of federal grants refers to statutes that assign responsibility to the governor’s office to review, approve, coordinate, or manage federal grants across the state.
Georgia Code § 45-12-40 authorized the governor or a designated official to enter agreements and take necessary actions to secure and administer federal grant programs for the state.[5]
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For the purpose of establishing and administering federal grant programs administered by the State of Georgia, the Governor or his designee is authorized to cooperate with or enter into agreements with any official of another state. The Governor or his designee is authorized to enter into contracts and perform all things necessary in his discretion to secure to this state and citizens of this state the benefits of federal grant programs.[6]
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Georgia Code § 45-12-110 required state agencies to notify the Office of Planning and Budget at least 30 days before applying for new federal assistance, providing project details, funding amounts, and matching requirements.[7]
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(a) Any state department, board, bureau, commission, authority, or other state agency, except the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and its employees, intending to apply for any new program of federal assistance under any federal program shall notify the House Budget and Research Office, the Senate Budget and Evaluation Office, and the director of the Office of Planning and Budget of its intention to apply for such federal assistance at least 30 days prior to filing the application for such assistance. Such notification shall include a summary description of the proposed federal assistance project, the amount of federal funds to be requested, the amount of state matching funds, if any, to be required in connection with obtaining federal assistance, and the period of time to be covered by the proposed federal assistance project.
(b) The House Budget and Research Office, the Senate Budget and Evaluation Office, and the director of the Office of Planning and Budget, acting jointly or independently, are authorized and directed to devise and distribute such forms as may be necessary to carry out subsection (a) of this Code section and, in connection therewith, to adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to ensure compliance with said subsection.
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Legislative oversight and transparency
Legislative oversight and transparency refers to statutes requiring reports to or involvement from the legislature in managing or approving federal grants.
Georgia Code § 45-12-110 state agencies to notify the legislature’s budget offices at least 30 days before applying for new federal assistance, providing project details, funding amounts, and matching requirements.[8]
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(a) Any state department, board, bureau, commission, authority, or other state agency, except the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and its employees, intending to apply for any new program of federal assistance under any federal program shall notify the House Budget and Research Office, the Senate Budget and Evaluation Office, and the director of the Office of Planning and Budget of its intention to apply for such federal assistance at least 30 days prior to filing the application for such assistance. Such notification shall include a summary description of the proposed federal assistance project, the amount of federal funds to be requested, the amount of state matching funds, if any, to be required in connection with obtaining federal assistance, and the period of time to be covered by the proposed federal assistance project.
(b) The House Budget and Research Office, the Senate Budget and Evaluation Office, and the director of the Office of Planning and Budget, acting jointly or independently, are authorized and directed to devise and distribute such forms as may be necessary to carry out subsection (a) of this Code section and, in connection therewith, to adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to ensure compliance with said subsection.[6]
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Georgia Code § 45-12-111 required the legislative budget analyst to evaluate the fiscal impact of proposed federal assistance projects and distribute the analysis to legislative leaders and appropriations committee members.[9]
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As soon as practicable after receiving a notification provided for in Code Section 45-12-110, it shall be the duty of the legislative budget analyst to analyze the short-term and long-term impact the proposed federal assistance project would have on state budgetary and fiscal matters if the application for federal assistance were approved. Upon completion of said analysis, the legislative budget analyst shall forward a copy of same to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each member of the appropriations committees of the House of Representatives and Senate, and to any member of the General Assembly requesting a copy of said analysis.[6]
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Audit and financial oversight
Audit and financial oversight refers to statutes related to auditing, financial tracking, or compliance for federal funds.
Ballotpedia did not identify any Hawaii statutes that assigned an oversight role of federal grants to state agencies.
Agency oversight of federal grants
Agency oversight of federal grant applications refers to statutes that establish procedures or requirements for how state agencies request or acknowledge federal funding.
Ballotpedia did not identify any Georgia statutes that assigned an oversight role of federal grants to state agencies.
Public oversight of federal grants
Georgia Code § 50-6-32, the Transparency in Government Act, required the Department of Audits and Accounts to maintain a public, searchable website with detailed state financial information on the expenditure and auditing of federal grant funds, allowing citizens and external groups to monitor how the state uses federal money.[10]
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(a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the "Transparency in Government Act."
(b) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) "Agency" means:
(A) Each department, commission, authority, and agency of state government;
(B) The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia;
(C) Any regional educational service agency;
(D) The General Assembly, including all legislative offices and agencies; and
(E) Local boards of education.
(2) "Department" means the Department of Audits and Accounts.
(3) "Searchable website" means a single website that allows the public to review and analyze information identified in subsection (c) of this Code section.
(c)
(1) The department shall develop and operate a searchable website accessible by the public, at no cost, that provides the following information pertaining to state fiscal year 2008 and each state fiscal year thereafter:
(A) The State of Georgia Comprehensive Annual Financial Report that includes an indexed statement of operations and a statement of financial condition of the state in accordance with governmental generally acceptable accounting principles;
(B) The annual Budgetary Compliance Report for the state that provides, by agency, an indexed report comparing budgeted and actual revenues and expenditures by budgetary units for each organization included in the General Appropriations Act, as amended. Such report shall include, at a minimum, a statement of the taxes and other revenues remitted to the state treasury and operating revenues retained by the agency during the immediately preceding fiscal year as well as a statement of total expenditures made by the agency during the immediately preceding fiscal year;
(C) The annual State of Georgia Single Audit Report that provides, by federal grant, an indexed listing of all expenditures of federal funds and also discloses by state organization any audit findings and corrective actions to be taken;
(D) Salaries and expenses of full-time and part-time employees and board members;
(E) A list of consultant expenses and other professional services expenses;
(F) State Budget in Brief, indexed by reporting agency;
(G) All performance audits conducted by the department for the preceding five years; and
(H) An indexed listing of all agencies and end users receiving any federal pass-through moneys and an itemized enumeration of the expenditure of such moneys.
(2) As soon as is practical after the close of each fiscal year, the department shall update the searchable website for such fiscal year to include the information set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(d)
(1) The department shall develop and add to the searchable website a report of certain grant and contract payments made or due to vendors by agencies reporting through the state's general financial accounting and information system and all payments made through economic and incentive programs operated by the Department of Economic Development, the Department of Labor, the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, and the Georgia Lottery Corporation pertaining to state fiscal year 2009 and each state fiscal year thereafter. Such report shall include, at a minimum:
(A) A list of all obligations entered into by the agency during the immediately preceding fiscal year which call for the agency to expend at any time in the aggregate more than $50,000.00; and
(B) A list of the names of each person, firm, or corporation that has received from the agency during the immediately preceding fiscal year payments in excess of $20,000.00 in the aggregate, including the amount paid to such person, firm, or corporation during such period.
(2) As soon as is practical after the close of each fiscal year, the department shall update the searchable website for such fiscal year to include the information set forth in this subsection.
(3) Offices of the judicial branch shall provide the information required by agencies under this subsection.
(e) All agencies shall provide to the Department of Audits and Accounts such information as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Code section.
(f) Nothing in this Code section shall require the disclosure of information which is considered confidential by state or federal law.
(g) Each local board of education subject to Code Section 48-8-141 shall provide the information required under that Code section to the department for posting on the searchable website.
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Other state oversight of federal grants
Click on a state to find out its oversight of federal grants, including how it reviews, approves, and manages federal funding through statutes, executive procedures, and legislative reporting.
See also
External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 U.S. Census Bureau, "2023 Annual Survey of State Government Finances: Historical Tables", accessed July 11, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Every CRS Report, "Impacts of Federal Grants and Other Funds on State and Local Budgets", accessed August 12, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 U.S. Census Bureau, "2022 Census of Governments, State and Local Government Finance Tables", accessed July 11, 2025
- ↑ U.S. Government Publishing Office, "Budget FY 2025 – Table 12.3 – Total Outlays for Grants to State and Local Governments by Function, Agency, and Program: 1940–2024", accessed July 16, 2025
- ↑ Justia, "Georgia Code § 45-12-40 "
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Justia, "Georgia Code § 45-12-110 "
- ↑ Justia, "Georgia Code § 45-12-110 "
- ↑ Justia, "Georgia Code § 45-12-111"
- ↑ Justia, "Georgia Code § 50-6-32"
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